Steelers Poised to Make Major Move for Franchise QB in 2026 Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers may still be waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers will join them for the 2025 season, but according to insider Mark Kaboly, the team is already thinking beyond that. Kaboly reported that head coach Mike Tomlin and the front office appear to be positioning themselves to make a serious push for a top-tier quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Kaboly didn’t name specific prospects, he highlighted the team’s strong draft capital for 2026—an estimated 11 picks, including multiple compensatory selections—as a potential springboard for a trade-up scenario.
“Unless they win the Super Bowl and pick 32nd, the Steelers will likely have enough assets to move up in the draft,” Kaboly explained.
Although the Patriots currently lead with 10 known 2026 picks, Kaboly pointed out that Pittsburgh could outpace them once compensatory picks are factored in.
Steelers Thinking Long-Term at Quarterback
Some analysts criticized Pittsburgh’s 2025 draft approach for not prioritizing the quarterback position earlier. The team passed on Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders multiple times, despite his perceived first-round talent, eventually selecting a quarterback only in the sixth round. Critics like FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd have questioned the team’s decision to target Rodgers instead of grooming a young QB like Sanders.
Kaboly’s report suggests this wasn’t a mistake, but part of a longer strategy. Pittsburgh appears to be setting its sights on the 2026 quarterback class, which is expected to be stronger than 2025’s. That could help avoid a repeat of the Kenny Pickett situation, where the Steelers invested in a quarterback from a thin class only to trade him less than two years later.
Tomlin and Khan Playing the Long Game
Historically, the Steelers have made the most of strong QB classes, as they did in 2004 when they drafted Ben Roethlisberger behind Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. That move helped define the next era of Pittsburgh football.
Kaboly made clear that while the Steelers won’t intentionally lose games in 2025, they are preparing to build their roster with a long-term outlook.
“They’ll go all in—if the right quarterback is there,” Kaboly said. “But it depends how far up they’d need to move.”
He pointed to the Jaguars’ recent draft-day trade to move up three spots, which cost them a high second-round pick and a future first-rounder, as an example of what it might take.
The Steelers are unlikely to prioritize short-term success in 2025 over positioning themselves for a potential franchise-altering quarterback in 2026. Tomlin and GM Omar Khan seem determined to take the strategic route—one focused on sustainable success, even if it means delaying the next chapter under center.